Catalytic Photodegradation and Mineralization of Cationic Dye Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution onto Copper Doped Zeolite

In this study, the photodegradation and the mineralization of a cationic dye Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous solution was investigated, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, using a photocatalyst based on copper modified natural zeolite (Z-Cu). Comparative studies of photolysis, photocatalysis on the monocationic form of zeolite (Z-Na) and photocatalysis on Z-Cu, quantified in terms of processes efficiencies, expressed as intensities of absorbance peaks as well as apparent rate constants, revealed that the presence of copper in zeolite network has a significant effect on photocatalytic activity. The addition of hydrogen peroxide (50 mM) in the photocatalytic process on Z-Cu (H2O2/UV/Z-Cu) practically doubled the efficiencies achieved by the process of photocatalysis on Z-Cu (UV/Z-Cu) after 120 min of irradiation. The effect of H2O2 dose on the MB degradation/discoloration efficiency by photocatalysis on Z-Cu highlighted that in the applied working conditions, 10 mM H2O2 was sufficient to degrade 50 mg . L -1 MB solution initial concentration